 Blister Beetles on Lupines You know spring has finally arrived here in Maine when the lupines begin to bloom and the blister beetles (Meloidae family) arrive. I discovered these last night on my nightly excursion to take photos of plants and insects. These blister beetles were a dark gray with a hint of dusky blue, but they can be black or striped. There are approximately 2500 species of blister beetles. It may interest you to know how the blister beetle got its name. These beetles secrete a substance, called cantharidin that is caustic enough to irritate the skin and mucus membranes and will even cause blistering on your hands if you try to pick them up. They are often found on lupines just as the buds begin to open, but can infest your garden and devour foliage on your flowers and veggies. Visit my article How to Control Blister Beetles if you have a blister beetle problem and need ideas for how to get rid of them.  Blister Beetle Eating Lupine Blooms This blister beetle prefers the tasty flavor of the lupine blooms. Although they have not made it to the lupines in my garden, yet, these were only a few hundred feet from my flower garden. I will be watching closely for any signs of blister beetles in my flower beds.
I hope you enjoyed the close-up view of blister beetles. Don't forget to visit my article to learn more about how you can get rid of these common garden pests! Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!
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 Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides Michx) photo © Nannette Richford All my life I thought the hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides Michx.) tree was dogwood. That's what my mother called it and I had no reason to doubt her. She was an intelligent and knowledgeable woman, but for whatever reason, she had the name of this tree wrong.
Hobblebush got it name from its unusual growing habit. The branches of this shrubby perennial tend to bend down toward the earth. If they touch the ground, they will take root and another tree will sprout and grow. The resulting branches are easy to trip over when you walk through the woods, making the person hobble along. Hobblebush produces a cluster of white flowers in a flat head. The outer ring has larger five-petaled white flowers, while the center is made up of tiny white flowers tinged with red, pink or purple. It blooms in the month of May, at about the same time as fiddleheads emerge. The shrubby bushes range in height from 6 to 12 feet in height and can often be found in partially shaded areas with acidic soil, says The Wildflower Center. Cuttings taken in the early spring will root easily. I always enjoy these beautiful flowers as they are one of the earliest flowers of spring. This year I have had the added joy of photographing them in as they emerge and bloom. May you enjoy the beauty of hobblebush when you encounter it in the wild. Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  Wild Strawberries Blossoms image copyright Nannette Richford The wild strawberries are now in full bloom. They always bring fond memories of my mother. When I was young we would head out in the early morning to pick wild strawberries. Within a short time we each had a two or three quart bowl overflowing with the tiny berries. My mother loved to make strawberry shortcake for a summer treat, but most of them were used in jam making.
In later years, she discovered strawberries and ice cream. We did not have fancy dishes, but we did have the old goblet-shaped coke glasses. She would mix the berries with sugar, crush a few and then let them set until it drew the juice from the berries. She would layer vanilla ice cream in the bottom of the glasses and then add a layer of syrupy berries and repeat for several layers.This was a delightful treat on a hot day. She eventually made less jam and froze the berries once she owned a freezer. I don't remember eating the frozen berries in the winter, but we must have. When I see wild strawberry blossoms, I think of her and all the hard work she did to raise her family. If you haven't tried wild strawberries, I encourage you to pick some this summer and give them a try. They are small and can be difficult to pick and hull, not to mention that the blackflies can be fierce in the strawberry fields, but their flavor is much more intense than the flavor of cultivated strawberries. Strawberries typically ripen in late June in my area of the state. If you are unsure when they ripen in your location, ask your neighbors. Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  Agelenopsis spiderlings on a twig. Photo © Nannette Richford Although I am not sure, I believe these are grass spider (Agelenopsis species) spiderlings. They are just hatching out of the egg sack and are actually very tiny - maybe a little bigger than a blackfly. I found them on the stem to an old plant near the guard rails along the side of the road last week.  Agelenopsis spiderlings on a twig. Photo © Nannette Richford Here is a better look at what the 'nest' of spiderlings looked like. I have walked past these in the spring before and thought they were just old webs tangled around leaves or other plant debris.
According to Bug Guide, an online resource about spiders and insects, there are 13 species of Agelenopsis in North America. They can be found throughout the US and Canada. These little spiders are responsible for the webs covered with dew you see on the lawn on summer mornings. They can also be found on bushes and plants along the side of the road. The web is flat or sheetlike with a funnel to the side. Apparently the spiders are shy and hide quickly, but they can bite and cause some pain and itching if you try to handle them. Although many of us are at least a little leery of spiders, they really are good for the garden as they eat other insect pests. According to National Geographic one spider eats about 2,000 insects a year, which mean they can be an effective way to control insects in your garden. I wouldn't recommend touching them, but if you see one of these clusters this spring, take a minute to stop and watch as the little spiderlings climb around on the silk. While you are at, why not give thanks to these babies who will likely eat insect pests all summer. Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING!  Friday evening as I was sitting out in my garden chair reviewing some photos of birds and flowers, I suddenly heard the familiar hum of my hummingbirds. I looked up to see the first hummingbird of the season hoovering about 18 inches from my face. I know some would say the curious bird was just checking out the area, but I prefer to believe he was stopping to say hello. I have read experts say that hummingbirds do not return to the same house each year, but I don't believe them. This little hummingbird visited my two feeders and immediately went to the site where I typically hang another. There was nothing there to attract him, other than his memory of the feeder from previous years. So far, I have seen two males. There may be others, but I haven't seen more than two together, yet. I must admit I feel a little bad for them. So far they have had one day of sunshine, a thunderstorm, a hailstorm and today they are braving snow and chilling winds. I'm sure they are reconsidering their decision to venture into the backwoods of Maine. I am delighted to see them, of course, as they symbolize the beginning of green, growing things for me. I hope you are enjoying the arrival of spring. Until Next Time . . . HAPPY GARDENING! |
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